Chapter 22: “Weren’t You Just So Bold? Why Are You Blushing Now?”

The living room was quiet, the warm yellow light cascading over them in layers. The faint sounds of their kiss filled the air, creating an atmosphere so charged with intimacy it was almost overwhelming. Though Sheng Li had been in the entertainment industry for years and had filmed countless kissing scenes, she rarely experienced such deep, passionate kisses.

Yu Chi’s experience was limited solely to her. At first, his actions were a bit clumsy, but kissing, climbing into bed, and desire were all primal instincts—things that didn’t need to be taught or coaxed out of him. He simply followed his inner possessiveness.

He wanted to kiss her, bite her, consume her very breath.

Sheng Li’s lips tingled with a mix of numbness and pain. She never imagined their first kiss would escalate to this level of intensity. Perhaps it was karma catching up with her after all the teasing and cruel jokes she’d played on him. Was this young wolf cub finally exacting his revenge?

She made soft, muffled sounds and lightly scratched his neck.

Their breathing grew erratic, entwined with each other’s. Finally, Yu Chi placed a gentle kiss on her lips, his hand still resting on the back of her head as he leaned down, slightly out of breath.

After a moment, Sheng Li raised her hand to touch her lips. Unable to help herself, she glared up at him. “You really weren’t kidding about not holding back, huh?”

Yu Chi looked down at the girl in his arms. His breath was warm, his voice low and hoarse. “Wasn’t this what you asked for? I’m just fulfilling your request.”

Sheng Li: “...”

Just as she was about to snap at him, she noticed something.

This guy didn’t even blush when drinking alcohol, yet now, his ears and neck were suspiciously tinged with red.

She gently touched his cheek, raising an eyebrow. “Weren’t you just so bold? Why are you blushing now?”

Yu Chi shifted uncomfortably, his voice slightly muffled. “Is it a crime to have less experience than you? Am I not allowed to be nervous?”

Sheng Li’s face flushed slightly too, her heartbeat still racing. But she teased him anyway. “Of course, after filming so many kissing scenes.” After saying this, she glanced at him. “I’m starting to regret letting you audition. If you end up filming kissing scenes with someone else in the future, I’ll definitely get jealous.”

Yu Chi had never met anyone like her. She had done so many infuriating things and filmed countless kissing scenes, while he hadn’t done anything wrong—and yet here she was, accusing him of being in the wrong. He felt utterly powerless in her grasp, his tone laced with deep resignation. “Do you really have to bring up those kissing scenes right now?”

“All right, all right, I won’t say it again,” Sheng Li said, realizing how much she had ruined the mood. She leaned up and planted a soft kiss on the corner of his lips. “Boyfriend, can you go pour me a glass of water?”

There wasn’t any hot water at home, so Yu Chi took the kettle into the kitchen to boil some.

Sheng Li followed him, standing by the table. “Cold water is fine too.”

Yu Chi didn’t respond to that. After setting the water to boil, he turned to look at her. “How did you get here?”

While flipping through his medical records, Sheng Li vividly recounted her arduous journey to see him. Closing the folder, she looked up at him with a smile. “It was Yuan Yuan’s brilliant idea. Yu Xiao Chi, don’t forget to send her a red envelope once you get your paycheck.”

Yu Chi frowned. “Was that really a good idea? Letting a female celebrity ride a bike late at night—what if something had happened?”

“You don’t need to worry; their car was right ahead,” Sheng Li reassured him, though she didn’t mention how panicked she had felt when the streets appeared deserted. She gave him a meaningful look. “Without taking risks, how could I possibly capture my boyfriend’s heart?”

Calling him “boyfriend” sounded so sweet.

Yu Chi sneered. “Oh really? In three months, you might have another ‘boyfriend.’”

Sheng Li paused, realizing he was referring to Lu Xingyu. She couldn’t help but burst into laughter, trying to comfort him. “Then you’ll be the main one. Don’t worry.”

Yu Chi: “...”

She truly embodied the definition of being shamelessly manipulative.

Yu Chi turned away with an impassive expression. Sheng Li quickly ran up behind him, wrapping her arms around him and cooing, “I was just joking! Lu Xingyu was talking nonsense. Even if he manages to stay celibate for three months, I wouldn’t want him. No one compares to you—you’re my only treasure.”

Yu Chi internally scolded himself for being so easily appeased but couldn’t help asking, “Do you still want that water?”

“Yes.”

The sensation of her soft touch against his back made Yu Chi tense slightly. His voice dropped. “Then let go of me.”

Sheng Li released him and noticed his voice was still hoarse. “Is your throat sore because of heatiness? Was it from eating spicy crayfish and barbecue that night?”

“No.” Yu Chi prepared a glass of lukewarm water and handed it to her, his expression blank. “It’s because of you.”

“...”

Sheng Li felt a pang of guilt as she accepted the glass, taking a sip before softly asking, “Are you referring to that trending topic?” It could also be due to Lu Xingyu’s arrival and her subsequent string of provocative actions, along with Lu Xingyu’s masterful follow-up performance.

It wasn’t impossible for Yu Chi to have been enraged to the point of fury…

Last night, Yu Chi had returned home close to midnight. He wasn’t someone who constantly kept up with entertainment news, but there were plenty of gossipy classmates in his class group chat. The group had buzzed all night, with no fewer than twenty messages tagging him, mostly sent by Hu Yi Yang.

Hu Yi Yang had even privately messaged him, pestering him eighteen times: [Bro Chi, please tell us! What exactly did Goddess Li agree upon with that jerk Lu Xingyu? Surely they aren’t planning to go public with their relationship? You’re always on set—you must know something! Can you give us a hint?]

Hu Yi Yang: [I swear I won’t tell anyone! If I do, may I be cursed with no descendants!]

When Yu Chi checked Weibo, the hashtag #Sister, Don’t Forget Our Three-Month Agreement# was already sitting atop the trending list. That hashtag blatantly mocked him: See, everyone knows about their three-month agreement. Only you, the fool, believed Sheng Li’s lies, went to audition, and dared to hope…

Yu Chi remained silent, as if tacitly agreeing.

Sheng Li felt a twinge of pity. She set the glass down and hugged his waist, half-teasing and half-comforting him. “I already told you it’s fake. If Lu Xingyu says anything else in the future, I’ll slap him, okay?”

Yu Chi took a deep breath, unwilling to dwell on Lu Xingyu. He checked his phone—it was nearly twelve-thirty.

He looked down and asked, “How are you getting back?”

“As for me, I’m not going back.”

“...”

Yu Chi gazed at her for a moment, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Alright then, Sister. Wait here while I go buy some condoms.”

Sheng Li: “...”

Her heart skipped a beat. Was this the same boy who had blushed after their kiss? She eyed him suspiciously for a moment before breaking into a grin. “Alright.”

“Want to come along?” he suggested quietly.

Sheng Li thought for a moment and said, “Sure.”

Yu Chi pulled her hand, walked around the couch, and handed her the shirt.

Sheng Li’s phone buzzed a few times. Without looking, she knew it was Yuan Yuan messaging her.

It was deep into the night, and the old neighborhood was mostly inhabited by locals—elderly people and children. Sheng Li hadn’t been spotted when she arrived, so she didn’t need to be overly cautious leaving. As they exited the building, Sheng Li held Yu Chi’s hand on the way down the stairs.

Yu Chi paused for a moment before gripping her hand tighter.

With Sheng Li trailing behind him, she pulled out her phone to check the messages.

Yuan Yuan had sent a screenshot.

Yu Chi: [Li Yuanyuan, when do you plan to pick her up?]

Yuan Yuan: [We agreed on twelve-thirty…]

Yuan Yuan’s surname was Li—a fact Yu Chi had only learned a few days ago since everyone called her Yuan Yuan, leading some to mistakenly think that was her last name. Seeing how quickly Yuan Yuan had sold her out, Sheng Li couldn’t help but click her tongue.

Reaching the first floor, Yu Chi spotted the shared bike Sheng Li had parked under a tree. He glanced down at her. “Ride the bike back—I’ll follow you.”

Sheng Li looked up at him, smiling mischievously. “Not going to buy condoms?”

Without a word, Yu Chi let go of her hand, pushed the bike toward her, and said flatly, “What’s worrying you, Sister? I’m still sick, and we still have nearly two months until wrap-up. Plenty of time.”

“That’s true,” Sheng Li said, wisely backing off. She swung her leg over the bike and grinned at him. “Then see you on set.”

Yu Chi watched her, nodding faintly.

The residential streets were deserted at night. Sheng Li pedaled slowly, her long hair flowing in the wind. She knew Yu Chi was following behind her and hummed a tune as she rode. With his hands in his pockets, Yu Chi trailed about ten meters behind her, seemingly casual and carefree.

Exiting the neighborhood, Sheng Li glanced back at him. The boy’s figure was somewhat blurred in the dim light, but his tall, youthful presence remained striking, like a sturdy white poplar bathed in moonlight. Though his features were indistinct, Sheng Li could imagine his current expression—nonchalant yet tinged with warmth.

The unease she had felt when arriving earlier dissipated completely thanks to the boy behind her.

—

Back at the hotel, Sheng Li sent Yu Chi a WeChat message.

Sheng Li: [I’ve arrived. Go back and rest.]

Yu Chi stood at the intersection in front of the hotel, glanced at his phone, and replied: [Mm.]

Inside the hotel room, Yuan Yuan was still shaken, fearing that evidence of their outing might surface one day, ruining everything. But Sheng Li was thoroughly satisfied with tonight’s escapade and promptly sent her several 888-yuan red envelopes.

Patting Yuan Yuan’s cheek, Sheng Li smiled brightly. “That idea worked wonderfully. We should use it often. Barring any mishaps, it’ll last until I finish filming.”

Yuan Yuan’s eyes widened. “Until wrap-up?!?”

“Yes,” Sheng Li confirmed. “Don’t forget to collect your red envelopes. Go to sleep—you’ve earned it.”

Yuan Yuan: “...”

Still dazed, she lacked the energy to even claim the red packets. Cautiously, she asked, “Li Li, um… are you and Yu Chi in a sugar daddy arrangement, or are you actually dating?”

“Of course we’re dating,” Sheng Li said cheerfully, stripping off the shirt and tossing it into Yuan Yuan’s arms. “If you’re willing, you can start calling him Brother-in-Law.”

Yuan Yuan’s expression was distant as she muttered, “Did Yu Chi save the galaxy in his past life? If fans find out you’ve been swept off your feet by an eighteen-year-old, they’ll probably drown in tears. This world really is superficial—just having a handsome face lets you conquer any goddess…”

Sheng Li pinched her cheek. “Snap out of it. I’m the one who conquered him.”

The next afternoon, Sheng Li was dozing off on a lounge chair when she heard the coordinator call out, “Yu Chi.”

She had slept too late the previous night and woken up too early that morning, leaving her feeling lethargic. She lazily glanced over. Yu Chi stood before the coordinator, his voice sounding almost fully recovered. “I’m fine now. We can shoot.”

The coordinator said, “Then go get ready with makeup.”

Yu Chi nodded and turned to walk toward the makeup room, passing by Sheng Li on the way.

Sheng Li lazily flashed him a smile. Yu Chi glanced at her discreetly before continuing on.

Yuan Yuan leaned over and whispered, “Li Li, I just overheard some extras gossiping about Yu Chi. Do you think his step-parents know he’s acting in this production? Will they come looking for him?”

“They can come if they want,” Sheng Li said indifferently. Yu Chi still had six years left on his contract with Starshine Entertainment, and his contract with the production team hadn’t been signed yet—after all, signing required the presence of his agency’s representatives. She didn’t know when Yu Chi planned to contact Jiang Nan.

Wouldn’t it be humiliating for Yu Chi to voluntarily reach out to Jiang Nan and announce he was filming? Wouldn’t that make him feel disgusted with himself?

She secretly hoped his step-parents would find out and inform Jiang Nan themselves, forcing the man to come crawling over without troubling Yu Chi.

At six in the evening, the crew’s boxed meals arrived.

Jiang Dong Min and Yu Man Qi personally delivered them, placing the boxes down while their eyes darted around. Yu Man Qi smiled and asked the production assistant, “Hey, isn’t Yu Chi acting in this production? What role is he playing?”

The production assistant had heard the gossip and naturally knew she was Yu Chi’s mother. But protocol dictated he couldn’t reveal much, so he casually replied, “Yes, isn’t that right? Since you’re his mom, why don’t you ask your son yourself?”

Yu Man Qi was momentarily speechless, forcing a laugh. “True.”

She had already called Yu Chi at noon, but he hadn’t picked up.

Jiang Dong Min had even gone to the inn where Yu Chi had previously stayed, only to learn he had moved out. They guessed that after joining the production, Yu Chi had likely moved into a hotel like the other actors.

When Yu Chi emerged from makeup, fully styled, he wasn’t surprised to see Jiang Dong Min and Yu Man Qi standing not far away.

Upon seeing his appearance, their eyes lit up.

Yu Chi shot them a cold, disdainful glance before averting his gaze.

Sheng Li observed this silently and beckoned Yuan Yuan over. Leaning in, she whispered, “Have the production assistant escort them out. Don’t let them linger here and bother us.”